Expert help needed

THERE are many alarming facts and statistics in the report the State Government has submitted to Victoria’s mental health royal commission.

In it we learn that, on average, the state’s police now get called to deal with a mental health issue once every 12 minutes. In just four years the number of Victorians seeking mental health help from their GP has risen more than 30 per cent, with almost 600,000 now filling waiting rooms.

The numbers prove what many Victorians know from their own observations and the anecdotal evidence at hand.

Mental health is a growing concern in this community. Depression, anxiety, stress and other associated problems are more prevalent than ever before. That is obvious in our schools, workplaces, sports clubs and community organisations. It is on show in public life, where politicians, sports stars, entertainers and artists are all among those increasingly affected by matters of the mind.

Undoubtedly, these trends increase the pressure on a stressed mental health system.

The state’s Mental Health Minister Martin Foley was brutally — and, for a politician, uncharacteristically — frank when he fronted the commission last week.

“Our mental health system is broken,” he said. “Despite increased funding, we are getting worse results every year.”

The one upside is that the stats show more people are taking the first step towards helping themselves by sharing information about their worries and disorders, and seeking professional assistance.

The State Government seems to understand that prevention and early detection are better than a cure, so is working to develop a “stepped care system”.

But there is need for caution in the idea that community or sports groups — in particular — could play a formal role.

These organisations already play an important, informal, role in the mental health of our community, one that needs to continue. But they are largely run by volunteers, and should not be overburdened with issues that demand an expert response.